May 2025

The 2025 UConn Early College Experience Italian Multimedia Competition brought Italian language learning to life through creativity, culture, and connection. Now in its second year, the contest—led by UConn ECE Italian Faculty Coordinator, Dr. Tina Chiappetta Miller—invited students to explore the theme “Il linguaggio…della natura” (The Language of… Nature) through original multimedia projects combining images, words, and sound.

More than just a language showcase, the competition encouraged students to think artistically and globally. Nearly 30 diverse and imaginative entries were submitted, ranging from poetic video essays to narrated animations and soundscapes inspired by the natural
world.

For the second consecutive year, the judging panel was composed of 9th-grade students from Florence’s Istituto Agrario (Agricultural Institute). With thoughtfulness and care, they evaluated the submissions and selected the winners. Their final selections were
shared in a special video presentation by jury representatives Lapo, Ettore, and Lorenzo, adding a personal and international
dimension to the event.

The competition reflects the mission of UConn Italian and UConn ECE—to make language learning meaningful, immersive, and creative. By blending digital tools with cultural expression, students not only practiced Italian but
brought it to life in new and powerful ways.

As this year’s entries show, Italian is more than a subject—it’s a living, expressive language. Through “Il linguaggio…della natura,” students gave voice to both language and nature, reminding us of the beauty that emerges when the two meet. Congratulations to all participants and winners!

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